[[16]] “Sir,—We have received your letter, to which we cannot at present give any other answer, but that it is not in our power to yield to your summons, nor to agree to anything done before; because, since your departure from here, Colonel Daniel Fitche is arrived, with commission from the lieutenant-general as governor, in obedience to an order from the king, which has been published. It is to the said governor that your summons and demands must be addressed, for he is the sole commander of the militia. We think that we have suffered great injury at the rupture of the articles concerning the Caribs, who attacked us twice in their wonted manner, which is cruel and barbarous. We would be glad to see you, if you wish, for we expect here, fifteen ships from Barbados, five of which are of fifteen guns each, and two of sixty; and eight merchantmen, of twenty to thirty guns; with a thousand of the king’s soldiers, dressed in their red jackets, and a quantity of arms. By coming, you will render service. We remain, &c.,
“Bastien Baijer, &c. &c.”
[[17]] “Sir,—We have sent this morning the only answer we could give, being under the command and authority of the governor, to whose power we could not resist; but as we have shewn him the reason of our first treaty, and our refusal to break it, we have done so much that he has agreed with us, provided he be included in it, with the rest of the inhabitants: the said treaty and agreement will be punctually ratified and executed in all its parts.
“Bastien Baijer, &c. &c.”
[[18]] “Gentlemen,—I have been much surprised when I saw that you made no answer to the summons given you, and much more yet when I read the letters you sent me this morning, in which you charge us with having treated you with rigour, which is seeking for a pretence of rupture, as you have done by not keeping your faith and word. I am landing and coming to you, to teach you your duty by force of arms: those who will lay down their arms will have good quarter from me, and the others shall be treated according to the rigour of war. Your servant,
“De Clodore.”
[[19]] It was for some time pending in the mind of Louis XIV. whether he should, or should not, restore Antigua to its rightful sovereign; and several letters passed between the King of the French and his ambassador, Count D’Estrade, (the deputy from Zealand assuring the count that he would use his influence to retain Antigua for his majesty, should such be his wish,) upon the subject. At length, however, Louis XIV., after much hesitation, authorized its rendition by a letter to Count D’Estrade, dated 6th May, 1667, of which the following is a translation:—
“I have always forgotten to inform you, and even to put it in your instructions, that it is my intention to surrender the island of Antigua to the English, which belonged to them before the war. Thus you will make no difficulty by promising, by the treaty (of Breda), that all things shall be established in the island of St. Christopher, and that of Antigua, as they were previously to the rupture,” &c.
CHAPTER IV.
Governors: Lord William Willoughby, Henry Willoughby—Arrival of Major, afterwards Lieutenant-General Byam, the progenitor of the family of that name—Biographical remarks—Partition of the Caribbee Islands—Sir William Stapleton—General Council and Assembly—Colonel Philip Warner—Expedition against the Caribs—Death of Indian Warner—Arrest and trial of Colonel P. Warner—Acquittal—Dampier’s account of this affair—Captain Southey’s History of the Indian Warner.